‘Dexter’ Season 7: ‘Sunshine and Frosty Swirl’ Recap

Like the premiere, Dexter season 7’s second episode, “Sunshine and Frosty Swirl,” picks up where we left off. Reacting to Dexter’s response to her “serial killer question,” Deb races out of Dexter’s apartment to throw up outside. Dexter, following behind, uses this moment to quickly reveal some of the rules his Dark Passenger follows. Ignoring what he says, Deb mentions how the slides she found in Dexter’s apartment are the same that the Bay Harbor Butcher used.

As they continue their conversation inside, Dexter and Deb have an odd, frank conversation about what’s going on, and why he lied to her about his extracurricular activities when questioned at the church. After Deb appropriately leaves upset, Dexter sits down at his desk to find a package has arrived for him. Inside the package we find the prosthetic hand from the Ice Truck Killer case – a gift from Dexter’s newest foe, the always creepy Louis Greene (Josh Cooke).

As Dexter goes to research his odd delivery, Deb beings her own research into serial killers, attempting to figure out exactly who her brother is. Though Deb seemingly strikes out with her conclusion that Dexter has an addiction that he needs to overcome, Dexter is able to finally track the prosthetic back to Louis. But now, with a sober companion (Deb) wanting to always accompany him where he goes, how is Dex going to get away long enough to pay Louis a visit?

Fortunately, Dexter and Deb’s new case finds them looking for dead bodies alongside a convicted serial killer who grew a conscience, which provides the chance for Dexter to slip away. Searching through Louis’ apartment, Dexter finds out that he was the one who canceled his credit cards; he also finds some videos with a prostitute and Louis’ rant about his nemeses, Dexter. Finally, Dexter also finds information about how Louis was able to take control of his software company, by planting child pornography on his partner’s computer.

During Dexter’s snooping, Louis comes home and Dexter is finally able to ask the question audiences have been wondering from the start: Why is he f—g with Dexter? As expected, Louis’ answer is as odd as he is: his game. Louis is still upset with Dexter for not showing interesting in his game, so he lashed out at him. The thing is, you can’t threaten Dexter without a little Dark Passenger coming out, and that’s exactly what happens. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop Louis’ pursuit to torment him.

Briefly touching on some of the other seasonal arcs, the episode also includes the arrival of this season’s “Big Bad” Isaak Sirko (Ray Stevenson) in Miami, still looking for Victor, Dexter’s victim from the last episode. Additionally, La Guerta (Laruen Velez) beings to look into the blood slide she found next to Trevor’s body. Will she be able to clear Doakes’ name?

As the episode begins to wrap up, Louis, now drugged, is in the back of Dexter’s car while he’s having a conversation with Deb nearby. Eventually Dexter is able to get rid of Deb to stash Louis’ body on a park bench, as a prank to hopefully scare him away. Elsewhere, Sirko kills one of his own and Dexter’s (now) friend, the serial killer convict, kills himself after wanting to spend some time outside, one last time.

This episode helps continue the strong story from the season 7 premiere, but we have yet to see much of this season’s villain (unless it’s Louis). Sirko is a strong character who appears extremely dangerous – but we have yet to really see that element, or why he’d make a worthy antagonist to Dexter. Deb and Dexter’s storyline continue to progress wonderfully, even if the addiction talk threatened to ruin it on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, it’s not like Deb’s frame of thought is going to change much between episodes, so it’s very likely that there will be more awkward sibling conversations about serial killing and exercising in the future.

Hopefully next episode should really help direct focus for this season, placing each respective character in their place and allowing the audience to know more about who is dangerous, how dangerous, and what exactly that might mean to everyone involved. If not, it looks like Louis might be the next one that falls to Dexter’s “addiction.”